Barbara Lu Sawyer Hillman, loving wife of 66 years, devoted mother, woman of faith and friendships, died in West Covina at the age of 97. A life-long Californian, she was born in Pomona on January 24, 1927, the youngest of four to Ray and Julia Sawyer, living her early years in La Verne, California. After High School at Bonita HS, and a year at Chaffey College, she was married at 18 and joined her husband Jack on the adventure of her lifetime, as a military wife, mother of 4 children, and then, in retirement years, traveling the world and enjoying life in the High Desert.
Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren inherited her love of music, her interest in the wider world and her devotion to making the world a better place. Barbara had come to a saving faith in Jesus when she was at a camp her senior year of high school and because of this she always made sure we kids had the opportunity to go to church and grow in our own personal faith. Her prayers for us led to all four of her children being very strong in their faith and involved in serving the Lord in many capacities, even though we grew up and scattered to different states.
Barbara’s personal peace and contentment infused our household. She sang in her church choir and always loved to hear her children practicing a variety of instruments. She sang around the house and taught her children to harmonize. When Jack got assigned to Hawaii and later Guam, she took it as occasions to see the world. Always ready to go, she kept the camper ready to jump in on a moment’s notice. She led in girl scouting and 4H, teaching everything from sewing to rewiring a lamp. She was kind to family, friends, strangers, and stray cats, making friends wherever she went. As children, we always knew we could bring home friends for holidays or any random dinner.
Barbara was preceded in death by her siblings James, Robert, and Elizabeth, and in 2011 by her husband Jack. She is survived by her daughters Elaine Stricklin and her husband Tom of Glendora, Ca, Lauren Odle and husband Gary of Minneapolis, MN, Jacalyn Behrends and husband Willie of Moreno Valley, CA, her son Jeffrey and wife Marie of Fincastle, VA and her sister-in-law Marianne Hilman of Pomona, CA. Barbara is also survived by nine grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, three of whom are named after her husband Jack.
A graveside service for Barbara will be held Friday, May 10, 2024 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518.
Celebration of Life
Saturday, May 11, 4:00 pm
CrossWinds Church
29263 Ironwood Ave.
Moreno Valley, CA 92555
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